What are the eligibility requirements for the Big O Tires U.S. Military Veteran & First Responder Program?
Big_O_Tires Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
U.S. Military Veterans & First Responders. We will waive the initial franchise fee for franchisees who are U.S. military veterans and first responders (as established in accordance with our policies as we may adopt periodically) and for franchisees that are corporations, limited liability companies or other entities for which a U.S. military veteran or first responder owns a majority of the equity interest ("U.S. Military Veteran & First Responder Program"). The U.S. Military Veteran & First Responder Program is available to qualified individuals who either have received an honorable discharge from one of the U.S. Armed Forces (i.e., Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard or Marine Corps), or are currently serving in one of the U.S. Armed Forces and eligible to receive an honorable discharge, or their entities as noted above. It is also available to first responders who were employed for a minimum of five years as a law enforcement officer, medical doctor, nurse, emergency medical technician or fire fighter, and who apply for a franchise after ending their service as a first responder. This reduction applies only to the first Big O franchise established by the veteran, first responder, or the veteran's or first responder's company. You may receive up to $100,000 in financing to acquire initial tire inventory from RDCs only. We will match 50% of each dollar, up to $20,000, the amount you spend on opening advertising in the form of a credit against your trade account for products purchased from us. For example, if you spend $20,000 on opening advertising, we will grant you $10,000 in the form of a credit against your trade account balance. You will be required to spend the applicable funds within 12 months after opening for business and in accordance with any other conditions and deadlines determined by us. The financing incentives are described with more detail in Item 10, and are not assignable to others without our consent. The U.S. Military Veteran & First Responder Program incentives are not available for a Store acquired in a transfer.
Source: Item 5 — INITIAL FEES (FDD pages 14–21)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Big O Tires' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the U.S. Military Veteran & First Responder Program waives the initial franchise fee for eligible participants. For U.S. military veterans, the program is available to individuals who have received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Marine Corps), or are currently serving and eligible to receive an honorable discharge. The program also extends to corporations, limited liability companies, or other entities where a U.S. military veteran owns a majority of the equity interest.
For first responders, the program is available to those who have been employed for a minimum of five years as a law enforcement officer, medical doctor, nurse, emergency medical technician, or firefighter. To qualify, first responders must apply for a franchise after ending their service. This incentive applies only to the first Big O Tires franchise established by the veteran, first responder, or their company.
Big O Tires retains the right to modify or discontinue the U.S. Military Veteran & First Responder Program at any time. If a franchisee does not continue to meet the ownership requirement for at least two years after acquiring the new franchise, they must pay the full initial franchise fee, which is currently $17,500. This amount becomes due immediately when the ownership requirement is no longer met. The U.S. Military Veteran & First Responder Program incentives are not available for a Store acquired in a transfer.